ISHS Acta Horticulturae 541: IV International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
LEUCADENDRON: A MULTI-PURPOSE CROP |
| Authors: | G.M. Littlejohn, A. Robyn |
| Keywords: | Cone bush, Interspecific Hybridisation, Cultivar, Plant Improvement |
| Abstract:
Leucadendron is a well-known cut flower floriculture product on the European market due to the wide use of the cultivar Safari Sunset. The genus Leucadendron is endemic to South Africa and almost totally confined to the Cape Floral Kingdom. In South Africa, heavy use is made of Leucadendron harvested from the wild or from seed sown stands. Leucadendron is a complex crop to breed, the plant is dioecious, with only the female type desirable for floriculture use, in many cases. Breeding is based almost entirely on interspecific hybridisation, with interesting results. In comparison to other Proteaceae genera, interspecific hybridisation is relatively successful and complex interspecific hybrids have been developed. The new hybrids are suitable as focus point flowers, filler foliage and potted plants. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
